Sheet-feeding means



-qlr

' 1,643 64 Sept. 27, 1927. v G. w. SWIFTYJR y 6 SHEET FEEDING MEANS Filed April 9.' 192e '7 sheets-sheet 1 Kaw-Nays.

G. W. SWIFT, JR

SHEET FEEDING MEANS 7 sheets-sheet 3 s m @www S s W #mi s s @w w .M m 5 Nw mw w o o o f ,f w a S u@ l 0 s/f \s E Qw GW wlw@ ll p w 5w N5 Q ,H S NS IQ; W m f w. W%//// w wm., lv WM, kw MW N im* .wml //./|r n b liil lil, ,l QN M :www ilu r|`| s N www* Ww Sept. 27, 1927.

G. W. SWIFT. JR

SHEET FEEDING MEANS G50/mfg( JWM-7;' J2

la; WRNEYS.

` 1,643,646 Sept. 27, 1927' G. W SWIFT, JR

SHEET FEEDING. MEANS Filed April 9. 1926 l7 Sheets-Sheet 5 BY A@ oRNl-:Ys

sept. 27, 1927. L643,646

G. W. SWIFTJ;R

SHEET FEEDING MEANS Filed April 9. 192e. v sheets-sheet s Wl TNESS l BY lcv. /Z I 014/ M www.

sept. 27,1927.

7 Sheets-Sheet 7 G W SWIFT, JR

SHEET FEEDING MEANS Filed April 9. 1926 rlrolm# .OO00OOOOOOOGOGOOGOOOGQOOOG Patented Sept. 27, 1927.

UNIT

GEORGE W. SWIFT, JR., OF BORDENTOWN, NEW il ERSEY.

SHEET-runtime MEANS.

pplication led April 9, 1926. Serial No. 100,909.

impossible to feed the sheets from the machine.' The type of feeding machine to which the present invention relates is commonly employed` for feeding box blanks or sheets to slotting or blanking out machine.

The main purposes of the present invention are to improve the accuracy of separation of stift boards or sheets from a pile or column and to provide feeding off devices which will surely engage the sheets even when curled,

warped or otherwise injured and further to the movement of more than one sheet ofboard from'the machine at one time.

In accomplishing these objects I have devised ra machine which will first be described wit-h reference to the accompanying drawings and the novelty afterwardspointed out with more particularity in the annexed claims.

In said drawings y Figure 1 is a plan viewA of the preferred embodiment of the improved machine.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same taken on the line 2 2 ofv Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail transverse sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. ure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional plan view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 6, and drawn to a slightly smaller scale. f

Figures 6 and 7 are enlarged detail vertical sectional views of parts of the sepaguard against Y rating and pile controlling devices shown in Figure 2.

Figures 8, 9 and 10 are enlarged detailviews of the main reciprocating feed ca rriage showing its mounting and operation.

IFigures 11, 12, 13 and" 14 are enlarged detail views ofthe calipering and controlling devices of the delivery throat, Figure 12 being a section "on line 12 12 of Figure 11.

Figure 15 is a vertical longitudinal sec-' tional view of a modified embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 16 is a detail transverse sectional view taken on the line 16 16 of Figure 15.

Feeding machines of the type to which the present improvements apply comprise a feed table or support over which sheets are fed, guides forming a hopper for supporting a pile or column of sheets above the table or support, the sheets column, a delivery throat through which the sheets are passed, and feeding mechanism for engaging the successively separated sheets and passing them through the delivery throat. In the embodiment of the improved machine vshown in the accompanying draw* ing.'the mechanism is illustrated as forming art of a slotting or blanking out machine of which A and B are knurled feed rollers constituting the feed-in rolls of the slotting` means for successively separating from the bottom of the pile or v or blanking out machine and also the delivery rolls of the improved feeder. These cooperating rolls, A, B are mounted in spaced relation upon suitably journalled in machine side frames 3, 4, geared to loperate in unison by a pair of intermeshing gears, one of which is shown at 5. These intermeshing feed shafts 1 and 2 are driven by any suitable means such as by gearing with the slotting or blanking out machine of which they may form a part.

Any suitable feed table or platform mav be provided between the side ,frames 3 and 4 in approximately the same horizontal plane as the bite of the delivery rollers A, B. As shown in theJ accompanying drawings this feed table is formed in three spaced sections indicated at 10, 11 and 12, thesections 10 and 12 being in afcommon horizontal plane while the intermediate section 11 .is in a slightly lower horizontal plane and can better accommodate the carriage upon which the feeding off devices are mounted as will hereinafter. be more fully explained. The

.spacing betweei.I the table sections 10, 11 and 12 is to accommodate the feed dogs which will be later described.

The side frames 3, 4 have formed in their upper faces T-shaped slots 15 shown best in the shafts 1 and 2 which are S Figure 3, in whichl engage the shouldered 18 of the side brackets 20 of an adjustable frame or carriage. Nuts 19 are threaded upon the bolts 17 clamping the side brackets in .the desired vadjusted position upon the machine side frames.

These side brackets 2O are 'connected by a,

- squared bar 21 extending from side to side I for the be effected, the

ftwo for each pushery from side to side of the of the table the rear guide frames and controlling devices' of the pile or column of sheets, hereinafter described.`

The side brackets 20 `are provided with bearing arms 25 in which is journalled a hand operated shaft 26 carrying atone end a hand-wheel 27 and having .keyed upon it adjacent bearing brackets 25, the gear wheels 28 which are in constant mesh with the rack bars 30, supported on the side frames 3 and 4 along side of the table sections' 10 and 12 respectively. By rotating the shaft 26 by hand-wheel 27, the carriage 20, 21 and the parts carried thereby can be moved longitudinally of the machine to increase or decrease the distance of the carriage from the delivery throat. It will be understood/that before such adjustment of the carriage can nuts 19 are loosened. and after the adjustment has been made said nuts are again tightened up..

The carriage 20, 21 is provided' with a pile supporting shelf projecting from the lower edge of foar 21`toward the delivery throat. This shelf in the preferred embodi- Vment of* the machine is made up of three horizontal plates secured to the under face of bar 21 by means of set screws 36, and spaced from the under cutout face of bar 21 y means of spacers 37 through. which set screws 36 also pass. lThese shelf plates 35, three in number in the machine as shown, are spaced from each other in the same vertical planes as the 'separations vbetween table sections 10, 11 and 12, this spacing being also for the purpose of'alf ding room proper operation of the eedlng off dogs.

eparati'ng pusher plates, indicated at 40, are mounted between the shelf plates 35 and the under face of the carriage bar 2,1,"gne of said pusher plates 40 being mounted upon each of said shelf plates 35. The spacers 37 are designed to afford proper clearance for the free operation of the p us er plates 40.l Each pusher plate 40 has rlgidly secured to rear edge two connecter plates 45, each of which is provided with rearwar w which is pivotallyconnected at 47 the lower end of a rock m1114518. The rock arms 48,

to a rock sha-ft 50 ournall in bearing lugs 51 ofthe carriage es() rackets .andextending machine. This rock machine and supporting above the' three in number,

y presented bearing lugs 46 to -plate 40, arev secured' shaft 50 has keyed to one endv a bevelled gear 55 meshing with a similar gear 56, slidably mounted upon a square shaft 60, presently referred to'. Gear 56 has anextended bearing collar 57 which is embraced by a sectional bracket 58 secured to the -face of the carriage bar 21 by bolts such as 59.

The square shaft 60 extends longitudinally of the machine above the side frame 4 and is journalled at its rear end in a bearing-6l which recives a cylindrical bearing end of shaft 60, and at its forward end in a bearing 62 embracing a cylindrical bearing portion of said shaft. The forward end of shaft 60 carries a bevel gear 65 in mesh .with a similar gear 66 mounted upon a short cross shaft 67 journalled in bracket bearings .68 and carrying at its outer end a rock arm 69 connected through a link 70 with crank 71 fixed upon a shaft '72 which extends from side to side of the machine frame and is mounted in bearings hereinafter described. The end of shaft 72 opposite that carrying the` crank 71 has keyed to it a gear 75 in mesh with a driving rack bar 76 which latter is supported by any suitable saddle or hanger indicated at 77. Rack bar 76 is driven by any suitable driving part of themachine, the driving connectlons being omitted from the drawings. The sheets ,are piled or.

stacked between the upright front guides 8G,Y hereinafter more fully described and two or more rear guides secured to thhel car- 'riage cross rail 21 by bolts 86. These rear guides 85 incline slightly to the rea-r and are channelled in their inner faces as indicated at 87 to receive the inverted Y-shaped dogs or latches 88 pivotally mounted at 89. These Y-shaped members 88 rest normally entirely within the recesses formed in the rear guide The sheet enslidefreely inzth'e..

los

channels 92 andare formed with sockets 91- referred to for the reception of inner` armsof 1 members 88. The .fo ward edge of each block is cut olf tosrest just inside of the forward arm of member 88, while the lower inner edge 98 of block-90 is bevelled for .the purpose of accurately engaging the face of the last 'twovor three sheets upon thenear exhaustion of the pile. Thev operationv will later be more fully explained. The inverted Y-sha d members 88 are formed with curved)e heels 88 'working inv slots 93 of carriage'lbar `21 to limit the outward swing les.

of members 88 under the action of the sheet 80 are vertically adjustable in the channelled rear faces of brackets which are transversely adjustable'upon a frame bar 105. 101 are adjusting screws mounted in guide members 80 and engaging brackets 100 for adjusting the width of the delivery throat between the lower ends of guides 80 and the delivery end ofthettable or platform. In the drawings two sets of front guides 80 are shown arranged at equal distances from the central vertical longitudinal plane of the machine although it will be understood that any desired number of these guides may be employed. ,M

The lower end of each of the front guides 80 carries two yieldingly mounted sheet engaging and controlling devices which aresupported directly above thedelivery end of the feedv table or platform and form therewith the controlling delivery throat. `One of these devices comprises a verticallyisliding plate mounted in the forward recessed face of guide member 80 and confined therein by lguide plates 110 secured by bolts 111. The low/er edge of plate 110 is bevelled off at 110a adjacent to the lower inclined guide face 80:L and isecured to the forward face'of.

plate 110 is a short section of an angle bar 112 projecting away from the inclined face 110e. Plate 110 is engaged by a pin 113 carried by a slide block 114 operating in a channel 115 of bar mally pressed downwardly by an expansion spring 116 retained in place by a lug 117 engaging the upper end of the spring. The block 114 rests upon the upper'end of an adjust-ing screw 120 threaded through the recessed lowerend of bar 80. jBy adjusting the screw 120 the spacing of the lower end of gauge plate 110 from be adjusted to a nicety. 12.1 isha cover plate secured over the 'upper end of the channel or recess 1in which the gauge plate 110 operates, Asaid plate 121 overlapping the upper end of plate 110.l It will vbe observed that the gudeway for plate 110 is inclined forwardly from the plane of feed to facilitate the act-ion of front edge of a sheet of cardboard'upon the inclined edge of 110a'in raising the gauge plate 110 against the action'of the spring 116.

Mounted in front of the vgauge member 110 vis an eccentrical'ly supported semi-cylindrical calipering'gate member 125. This member 125 has a flattened lower face 125a .presented toward the plane of feed of sheets and a vertical faee`125b extending kat right angles to the 80, said block 114 being nor-f the feed table can of usual construction are not drfawing.

plane of feed. Member 125 is mounted upon a/bearing` shaft 126 journalled in brackets 127 which are secured to the forwardfaces of the laterally projecting extensions 8Ob of the lower end of guide members 80. Pins 128 mounted in shaft 126 are engaged by springs 129 connected with angular brackets 130 to yieldingly hold the calipering member 125in normal position. This normal position is determined by one or more stop pins 131 projecting rearwardly from the vertical face 127b and engaging the forward f-ace of Awing extensions 80h. It will be understood that calipering member 125 is a'djusted toward and away from the plane of feed with guide member 80 through the action of screw 101.

Cooperating with the sheet supporting and separating devices above described is em-A ployed a feed-olf mechanism of any suitable form, but preferably constructed as shown in the drawings as will now be. described.

' Extending centrally through the middle table section 11 are 'the parallel separatedA channel bars 14() providing between them a trackway 141 which is bridged 'at the delivery end of the table by a plate 142 having an inclined rear edge 143 and of proper thickness to present its main upper surface in horizontal feeding plane of table sections 1()V and 11. Thisbridging plate 142 serves to prevent the sagging of wide sheets between the supporting table 'sections 10 and 12. 1 j

Operating in the trackway 141 is'a reciprocating channel' bar 145 having secured to its lower face a rack bar 146 in constant mesh with a gear Wheel 147 which is mounted upon the oscillating shaft 72 above referred to. The rails have 'downwardly projecting plates 148 cut out to loosely project around the hub of the gear 147 and the bearing 149 carried 'by face plate 150 secured to one of the plates 148. by set-screws 151. The shaft 72 is also properly journalled at` or near its ends in suitable bearingscarried by the side frames of themachine, one of said bearings being indicated at 152, but said bearings being shown in the flat wide tray-like carriage strengthened by integral ribs 161 which are tapered from the rear toward the front to present unobstructed surfaces to the sheets that are fed. `This tray-like carriage is formed with a rear` rectangular extension 162 through which'projects a bolt 163 having a shouldered head 164 whichadjustably engages the T-shaped Islot or channel inthe upper face of the bar above referred tg. The nut 165 upon bolt 163 clamps the'traylike carriage in the desired adjusted position upon the bar 145vwhich carries the rack 'bar upon its lower face. The'pointer member166 secured to the tray extension 160 is a relatively carriage 160 to suit the particulary lsize of tray 160 and 'sheets to be operated upon.

In the forward edge of the tray-like carriage 1GO `are mounted two gravity feed dogs spaced transversely; of the machine to ,operate beneath the rear pile guides 85 and sheet controlling devices 88 and 90. Each of the gravity feed dogs comprises a broad hook-like member 170 presented above the pivotally mounted upon a pin 171 carried in the under bracket flanges 172 and having a forwardly pro'ectin weight 173 which normally tends to Ihold tie hooks 17 0 elevated slightly above their supporting carriage 160. The weighted ends of the hooks carr lugs 174 which engage `stops 175 secure to the bracket flanges 172 for limiting the elevation of the hooks upon the carriage.

A pile of cardboard sheets is arranged as shown in Fig. `2 with the forward edges of the sheets in contact with inclined faces 80 of guides 8Ov and the rear edge of the sheets in engagement with rear guides 85 and members 88. The lowermost sheet of the pile rests at the front upon the feed table or platform and at the rear upon the shelf plates 35, the sheets being thereby supported in slightly inclined position with the rear higher than the front. ByL the described operating mechanism the pusher plates 40 move forwardly andv push the lower sheet off of the shelf plates 35 causing the forward edge of the lower sheet to pass into @from the machine the the delivery throat. This llower sheet is thereafter engaged by feed dogs 170 and because of their arrangement and construction they have a wide frange of action and are able to engage the sheets even when its rear edge is curled, 'warped or broken. The feed dogs are carried forwardly by their carriage pushing the she t beneath the members 110 and 125 into t el bite ofJ delivery rollers AL B, which feed the separated sheet at an incrgased speed from the machine, while the carriage with the feed dogs returns to its initial position for feeding out the next sheet. It will be clear that`the delivery feed carriage reciprocates forwardly and backwardly. After .the firstl sheet starts next succeeding sheet is pushed off the shelf plates 35 while the forward edge of said sheet rests upon the lower sheet in process of moving from the machine.4 This second sheet therefore engages the gauge plate 110` and raises it in its guideway because of the presence 'of a double thickness of sheets beneaththe gauge. y.The pressure of the said spring pressed vgauge 110 creates sutlicient friction between said second sheetV and the onebeing delivered by rollers A', B to cause the second sheet to fdr board and the feed-ofi' dogs again come into action to move it forward for delivery and a succeeding sheet is pushed from the shelf plates by the pshers.

Th-e calipering-member 125 presents its abrupt face 125b across the path of sheets `to engage the leading edge of each sheet. above the one resting in the plane of feed,

it being understood that the guide member 80 is adjusted to present the lower face 125 of the caliperingmember to provide just space enough for the thickness of one sheet to pass in the plane of feed. The slide 110 with bevelled lower edge 110a and flange 112 being yieldingly mounted above the plane of feed serves the important purpose of threading the first sheet beneath the calipering member 125 and when raised by the presence of two thicknesses of sheets beneath it to apply sufficient pressure to the seco-nd sheet to ensure the friction with the lower sheet carrying the leading edge of the second sheet up against the ing member 1725. This member 110 also properly depresses the leading edge of each sheet as it drops from the rear 'edge of a sheet passingfrom beneath it and enters the calipering throat beneath member 125.

When a chine between the'front 'guides 80 and rear guides 85, the rear edges of the sheets willx press rearwardly upon the members 88 and hold the weights 90 in reary position as shown in Fig. 6. The action ofthe weights also yieldingly presses'members 88 against the rear edges of the sheets, slightly crowdino' them against WV en there is a sufficient number of sheets in the pile the weightof the pile upon the rear edges of the bottom sheets will accurately hold down said rear edges for the effective engagement of the pusher plates in moving the sheets successively from the lshe-lf plates 35. When the pile becomes sufficiently exhausted to lower the top beneath the end pf member 88,' said member willA then be free t6 move from the position shown in Fig. 6 into the. position shown in Fig. 7, thereby permitting th-e weight 90 to downwardly and forwardly 1n its Iguideway to present the lower bevelled face 909 above and in engagementwith the rear edge of the pil-e. Vhen this action takes place it will be observed thatv the weights serve to hold down the rear edges of the remaining few sheets to ensure proper action of the because 'the springs the front piling guides 80.

abrupt face of caliperpile of sheets is placed in the maslide u' lll .lio

ring devices and sheet controlling pusher plates 40. This action of the weights continues until the last' sheet is removed by the pushers.

It will be understood that brackets 100 carrying guides 80. and other devices supported thereby can be adjusted transversely 0f the machine to best operate upon the particular width of sheet that is to be fed. In

ymachines adapted for extra wide sheets it may some times be found desirable to employ more than two of the front guides 80' with the adjustable throat forming caliperressure members. Likewise it is sometimes esirable in providing the machine for handling wide sheets to have a greater number of the rear pile guides 8O and controlling weights 90 and members 88. The feeding 0E carriage with dogs 70 may also be duplicated for extra wide feeding machines.

It will be observed that by means of the hand wheel 27 the carriage 21 supporting the separating pusher devices, rear pile guides andv controlling devices can be adjusted forwardly and backwardly upon machines to suit the length of the sheets that ar-e to be fed. In this adjustment for different length of sheets, it will be understood that the gearing between the pusher 0 erating shaft and the squared driving s aft permits said adjustment without intel'- fering with the driving connections. The feed-off carriage with its feed dogs 17 0 can be adjusted longitudinally of the machine to produce the proper feedincr stroke and cooperation upon sheets of different length.

In Figures 15 and 16 I have shown a slight modification of the improved machine in which the pile supports and sheet separating and controlling devices are the same as in the preferred form ofmachine above described. In this modified form of machine an endless chain delivery mechanism is provided in lace of the reciprocating delivery feed above described. This endless feed chain in the form of a sprocket chain is indicated a-t'180 passing around sprocket i wheels 181, 182 at opposite ends of the machine and a chain tightening sprocket wheel 153 mounted upon an adjustable bracket 154. The sprocket wheel 182 is driven by sprocket chain 155 ferred to.

This endless sprocket chain 180 has pivotally mounted upon it at equally spaced points the broad feed hooks or dogs 190, each-.of which is. journalled upon an extended pivot heel 192 carrying an anti-friction roller 193. Beneath the pile of sheets is mounted a horizontal. track bar 195 upon which the sprocket chain'180 runs between the supporting ysprockets 1811and 182, the chain being provided with the usual anti-friction rollers 180a between the links. Mounted befrom shaft 1 above refrom said pile,

in 1,91 and has a projecting low and parallel with the trackbar 195 is a, second trackbar 200 upon which thel rollers 193 run for supporting the feed dogs or hooks elevated from the chain in position to engage the rear edge of a sheet that is pushed from the supporting shelf just prior to the arrival vof a feed dog or hook. It will be understood that the two sets of feed chains L180 with feed dogs will usually be employed in the machine.

I claim 1. In a feeding machine, the combination of means for supporting a pile of sheets, means for separating individual sheets from vsaid pile, means for feeding sheets from said pile, a cali ering member mounted above the plane o feed of sheets, and forming a delivery throat in the plane of feed of sheets, and yielding means engaging sheets 'and exerting downward pressure thereon in rear of and adjacent to said calipering member for threading individual sheets beneath said calipering member and frictionally feeding adjacent sheets toward said calipering member,

2. In a sheet feeding machine, the combination of means for supporting a pile of sheets, means for separating individual sheets from said pile, and means for feeding sheets, with .a calipering device arranged above the plane of feed and formed with a rearwardly presented abrupt sheet engaging face projecting at an angle to the plane of feed, and yielding sheet engaging means arranged adjacent to and in rear of said calipering device.-

3. In a sheet feeding machine, the combination of means for supporting Ya pile of sheets, means for removing 4individual sheets from said pile, and means for feeding sheets with a yieldingly mounted calipering device arranged above ther plane of yfeed and formed with al rearwardly presented abrupt sheet engaging face projecting at an angle to the plane of feed, and yielding sheet engaging means arranged adjacent to and in rear of said calipering device for producing friction between t'wo sheets and causing the upper sheet to register against the abrupt face of the caliper while the lower sheet is delivered.

4. In a sheet feeding machine, the combination of means for supporting a pile of sheets, means for removing individual sheets and means for feeding sheets, with an adjustably mounted member arranged above the plane of feed, a calipering device pivotally mounted upon said member and' formed with an abrupt rearwardly .presented sheet engaging face projecting at an angle to the plane of feed, a spring holdslide.

5. In a sheet feeding machine, theV combination of means for supporting a pile Hof sheets, means for removing individual she'ets from said pile, and means for feeding sheets,

ywith an adjustably `mounted member arranged above the plane of feed, a calipering device pivotally mounted upon said member and formed with a rearwardly presented abrupt sheet engaging face projecting at an angle to the plane of feed, springs engaging said calipering device holding it yieldingly ain normal position, a sheet engaging lslide mounted upon said membergadjacent to and in rear of said calipering device, and a spring acting upon said slide.

'6. In a sheet feeding machine, the combi nation of means for supporting a pile of sheets, means for removing individual sheets from said pile, and means for feeding sheets, with -an adjustably mounted member arranged above the plane of feed, a caliper-ing device carried by said member, and a sheet engaging slide arranged adjacent to and inX rearof said cali eringe'device.

7. In a sheet ceding machine, the combination of means for supporting a pile .of sheets, means for removing individual sheets from said Lpile, and' means for feedingpsheets, With an adjustabl mounted member arranged above the `p ane of feed, a calipering device mounted upon said' member, a sheet engaging slide arranged adjacent to and in rear of said calipering device, and aguideway formedon said member supporting said f 8./ In a sheet feeding machine, the combination vof means for supportinga pile of sheets,'means for removing individual sheets form said pile, and means for feeding sheets,

withan adjustably mounted ile uide arranged above `the-plane of fee a s eet calipering devicemounted upon said pile guide, an inclined guide-,way formed upon the lower part of said pile guide, adjacent to and in rear of said caliperin device, and a yielding sheet engaging s lde mounted in said guide-Way and formed with A a /rearwardly presented bevelled lowe'mend.

9. In a sheet feeding machine, the combination of means ,for'supportingv a pile of sheets, means for removing individual shets from said pile, and means for feeding sheets, with an adjustably mounted pile uide arranged above the plane-of feed, a s eet callpering device mounted upon said pile guide, an inclined guide-way formed upon the lower part of said pile guide, adjacent to' and in rear of said calipering device, .a sheet engaging slide mounted in said guide-way, a spring device pressing downwardly upon said slide, and an adjustable stop limit-ing the downward movement, of said slide. v

10. In a sheet feeding machine, the combination of a feed table, means for support-4 ing a pile of sheets above said feed table inrear of saidedge of said .cluding a shelf spaced above the feedtable ,sheet pusher slidingupon said shelf at the pile for successively pushing the rear ends of the bottom sheets from said shelf to lower them from the pile to the feed table, and feed off ing over said feed table in the space beneath said shelf and comprising a movable carrier mounted below and independently of said` sheet pusher and a: feed dog mounted upon said carrier.

ll. In a sheet feeding machine, the combination of a feed table, pile supports including front piling guides spaced from the feedntable to provide a delivery throat, rear Y guides, and a shelf adjacent said rear guides spaced'above the feed table and supporting the rear of the pile in a higher plane than the front of the pile, pusliers operating above said shelf for pushing the bottom sheets forwardly and causing the rear edges from said shelf to the feed table, a feed-o carrier operating above said feed table, and counter weighted feed dogs pivotally mounted upon said carrier,

12. A bot-tom dellvery sheet feeding machine having means for supporting a pile of sheets including guides engaging opposite edges of said pile, movable members mounted upon the guides in position to engage one edge of said ileand means engaging said movable mem ers and ieldingly pressing them against the edge of7 the pile.

13. A'bottom delivery sheet feeding machine having means for supporting a pile of sheets including guides engaging opposite edges of said pile, movable members mount- 'ed upon the guides in position to engage one pile, and weights engaging said movable members and ieldingly pressing them against the edge ofy the ile.

` 14. In a sheet feeding mac ine, the combination of means for supporting a pile or stack of sheets, sliding weights mounted adjacent to said pile or stack, and movable members4 actuated by said weights an'dheld thereby in engagement with the pile or stack.

I5.' In a sheet feeding machine, the combination of guides for apile or stack of sheets,y movable arms pivoted upon saidV guides and engaging the edge of said pile or stack, andsheet engaging. weights movthereof to dro `ably mounted in said guides and operatively ment with vthe final sheets of the pile or stack when said movable members are released by@ t-he lowering of the'pile.

16. In a sheet feeding machine, the comguides for a Apile or stack of' bination of sheets, movable arms pivoted l upon saidA mechanism operat- 5 'ways and operatively engaged by said movnormally restrained by engagement with the pile for holding said 'weight out of action. 19. In a sheet feeding machine, the combination of -guides for a pile of sheets, a shelf supporting one edge of said pile, a pusher for moving successive individual sheets from said shelf, a guideway leading to rsaid shelf, a Weight mounted to slide in said guide-wa into engagement with sheets uponr said she f, and movable means en aging said weight and normally restraine by engagement 'with the pile for holding said weight out of action.

20. In a sheet feeding machine, the combination of guides for a pile of sheets, a shelf supporting one edge of said pile, means for moving successive individual sheets from said shelf, a guide-way leading tosaid shelf, a Weight mounted to slide in' said guide-wa into engagement with sheets upon said shel and a pivoted lever and normally restrained by engagement the pile for tionn guides and engaging the edge of said pile or stack, guide-ways inclining toward the pile or stack, and sheet engaging weights j movably mounted in said inclined guideable members and normally held out of action thereby, said weights being adapted to move into engagement with the final sheets A ofthe pile or stack when said movable mem- 10 -bers are' released ly the lowering of the pile. A 17. In a sheet eeding machine, the com` bination of guides for a ile 'of sheets, a shelf supporting one edge o said pile, means for moving successive individual sheets from said shelf, a guide leading to said shelf, and a Weight mounted to slide in said guide and engage sheets upon said shelf.

18. In a sheet feeding machine, the combination of ides for a. pile of sheets, a shelf supporting one edge of said pile, means for moving successive individual sheet-s from said shelf, a guide-way leading to said shelf, a. 1Weight mounted to slide in said guideway into engagement with sheets upon said 25 shelf, and means engaging said weight and with GEORGE W. SWIFT, Ja'

engaging said Weightr holding said Weight out of ac- 

